Windows 10: Bootable thumb drive created with Media Creation Tool not recognized

Using my old Windows 7 x64 Ultimate machine, I have created a bootable thumb drive using the Media Creation Tool but the thumb drive is not being recognized by the new (target) PC where I want to install Windows 10, which is running a Gigabyte GA-Z270M-D3H motherboard with 16GB RAM.

I've created the bootable thumb twice and have also tried using Rufus with an ISO. But flashed to the latest BIOS (9 MARCH 2018) the new PC simply does not "see" either of these thumb drives as valid boot options, regardless of whether CSM is enabled or disabled, or the boot storage devices are set to Legacy or UEFI.

When I examine the created thumb drive, the contents look "sane". I can see the Windows 10 folders and files for 32-bit and 64-bit installations.

There's a Crucial SSD on SATA1, and an ASUS DVD burner on SATA0 on the new target machine.

QUESTIONS:
Does the machine that is used to create the bootable thumb drive itself have to support UEFI? Or just the target PC?

Are some types of thumb drives incapable of being used as bootable devices? If so, how can I tell whether mine can be used in this manner? Properties->General shows that it is formatted FAT32. and that it has 28GB free. It is listed under Hardware as USB SG Flash USB Device.

There's always the possibility that the BIOS on this new MB is flaky and is to blame for these problems, but I don't know how to determine that. I do know that some things are weird. The BIOS and the MB memory slot labels do not jibe. Here's my memory configuration showing how the MB labels the slots:

[ ] DDR4_4
[ occupied ] DDR4_2
[ ] DDR4_3
[ occupied ] DDR4_1

But the BIOS reports that slots 2 and 4 are in use.

If I move the sticks to different slots:

[ occupied ] DDR4_4
[ ] DDR4_2
[ occupied ] DDR4_3
[ ] DDR4_1

the BIOS reports that slots 1 and 3 are in use.

:)

 

Thumb Drive Partition created by Windows 10 Media Creation Tool

No, but this is not the partition that I'm talking about. I used Windows 10 Media Creation Tool to create an installation partition on a thumb drive. That partition was used to update my Windows 8.1 to Windows 10 Anniversary on my PC. Now I can only access
the installation partition with the setup files on my thumb drive. There's an old partition with al my data on the thumb drive, but I can't access it. I would like to be able to access it to retrieve my data.

 

Creating Bootable USB drive with Windows 10 Media Creation Tool

Hi,

My situation is oddly enough EXACTLY like yours. I am using Windows 7 Home Premium on my laptop to create a bootable USB drive to boot Window 10 onto my newly built PC.

I do hope that Microsoft fix this issue in the Media Creation Tool.

I have tried to get the Media Creation Tool to recognize my Kingston (8GB) and my Sandisk Cruzer Blade (16GB). None have worked.

I tried the other rufus method as well with no success at all.

Hopefully Microsoft solves this.

Thanks in advance.

 

Cannot create recovery drive or bootable usb using media creation tool

Hi Stuart,

To assist you better with your concern, are you getting an error message upon creating a recovery drive, as well as creating a bootable USB drive? If yes, what's the error message?

In addition to that, have you tried the steps from the following articles:

• Create Windows 10 installation media.
• Create a recovery drive.

Regards.